This placebo-controlled, double-blinded, randomized controlled trial (RCT) investigated the effects of a prebiotic supplement on muscle function and cognition in 72 older adults (36 twin pairs, ≥60 years). All participants received resistance exercise and branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) supplementation. One twin in each pair received a daily prebiotic, the other a placebo, for 12 weeks. The prebiotic was well-tolerated and altered the gut microbiome. While no significant difference was found in the primary outcome (chair rise time), the prebiotic significantly improved cognition. This suggests that inexpensive gut microbiome interventions may enhance cognition in older adults. The study also demonstrates the feasibility of remote trial delivery for older populations.

Mary Ni Lochlainn, Ruth C. E. Bowyer, Janne Marie Moll, María Paz García, Samuel Wadge, Andrei-Florin Baleanu, Ayrun Nessa, Alyce Sheedy, Gulsah Akdag, Deborah Hart, Giulia Raffaele, Paul T. Seed, Caroline Murphy, Stephen D. R. Harridge, Ailsa A. Welch, Carolyn Greig, Kevin Whelan, Claire J. Steves